The detail: Warren David Gatland, b Sept 17, 1963, in Hamilton, New Zealand

Playing record: 17 matches for the All Blacks but no Tests. Represented Waikato in a record 140 matches between 1986 and 1994.

Coaching record: 22 Tests, won 14, lost 8. Success with Connacht in the mid-Nineties led to this Kiwi coaching Ireland - with mixed success. Under his tenure Ireland beat France in Paris for the first time in 28 years, but a poor 1999 Rugby World Cup, when they failed to make the finals, and a lack of success in the following Six Nations campaigns led to his sacking. Gatland then had spells at London Wasps and Waikato before being named head coach of Wales in Nov 2007.

The mantra: "And then we lost Dwayne Peel to injury, coming on the back on injuries to Mike Phillips, Mark Jones, John Yapp, Ian Evans, Dafydd Jones and Duncan Jones - all before we'd kicked a ball in anger. Add Gavin Henson's absence to that and you'll see why I headed TO the valleys for some talented teenagers."

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In his dreams: A return to the heady days of 2005 and 2008 and another Grand Slam. Or even just a championship. A Triple Crown at worst. Following a disappointing autumn, Gatland will hope that the return of Ian Gough and Adam Jones up front will reinvigorate his tepid-of-late backs.

In his nightmares: His team actually believing that they are the Six Nations favourites. Say what? And then getting decimated by England - of all teams - on the opening weekend at Twickenham. With morale on the low side after a humble autumn, a bad defeat on Feb 6 could have disastrous knock-on effects.